By Joshua Margolis, NBC Montana
HELENA, Mont. — Montana’s House minority leader hopes to get support for a bill that would establish a workforce housing trust fund.
State Rep. Kim Abbott’s (D-Helena) House Bill 574 would use current surplus dollars to establish the fund.
The bill had its first hearing Monday in the House Business and Labor Committee.
It would transfer $500 million from the general fund to the Board of Housing to provide revolving loans and grants for affordable workforce housing. Half of that amount would become immediately available for use for low interest loans and grants, and the other half would be invested.
Supporters say with the cost of housing presenting major challenges across the state, the bill would incentivize builders and ensure housing is attainable for the workforce.
